Road roller structure



March v.23, 1943. J. R. R11-CH@ 2,314,601

ROAD ROLLER STRUCTURE FiledMarch 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Figrlf March 23, 1943. .1. R.V mTcHlE 2,314,601 ROAD -ROLLER STRUCTURE Filed March 2l, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a vehicle and particularly to a vehicle such as a road rolling machine. The invention is illustrated in connection `with a road rolling machine of the type illustrated in the patent to Ritchie granted Dec. i7,y

Such road rolling machines are used for compacting the materials used in various kinds of roads in compacting lls and other places. The general arrangement of such a roller is to have Wheels equipped With pneumatic tires on two axles, the Wheels and tires thereof on the respective axles being in staggered relation. There is a very small strip of the material or road which is sometimes not engaged by the tire and thisleaves a small ridge extending longitudinally oi `the road.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and efficient structure for giving a wobble motion to the wheels or tires so that there will be no such ridge remaining after the road roller has passed over the road forming material.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a vehicle such as a road roller having an axle, a wheel secured to said axle having a -tire.

receiving rim and comprising relatively movable parts provided with portions disposed in planes making a slight angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said axle so that said wheel can be disposed with the central plane of the rim at right angles to the axis of the axle or in position making a slight angle to a lane perpendisoular to said axis.

It is more speciiically an object of the invention to provide a vehicle such as a road roller 'having an axle, a wheel carrying flange secured to said axle having a surface disposed at a slight Aangle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said axle, a rim carrying wheel frame having a flange adapted to engage said wheel-carrying flange, said flange on said wheel frame being disposed in a plane making a slight angle with the central plane of its rim whereby said flanges may be relatively disposed so that the central plane of said rim will be at a slight angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the axle or may be perpendicular` to said axis.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a wheel and axle embodying the invention with the central vplane of the rim or tire o f the wheel disposed at right angles to the axis of the axle;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a pair Iof wheels and the supporting parts embodying the invention and arranged with the central plano of the rims making an angle 7to a plane perpendicularv to the axis of the axle;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the end of Vthe axle and adjacent parts;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in a different position, Figs. 3 and 4 being .shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing a modication; and

Fig. 6 is a View ,in side elevation of a pair of wheels provided with the structure shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings a portion of a vehicle such as a road roller is shown comprising an axle I il. An axle carrying member or housing I I surrounds the central portion of axle Il) and is provided with bearings I2 of any suitable type such as the well known Timken bearings in which `axle Ii] is journalled. Housing II may be oscillatably mounted about a substantially longitudinal pivot member 9 supported by a lug 8a on the frame 8 of the roller. Housing II is shown as provided with a cap I3 secured in place by headed screws I4 and adust washer I5 is carried in cap I3 and `surrounds axle Il). Axle Iii is illustrated as having a tapered portion. Illa to which is se- .,cured vby Ya suitable key I6 the hub portion of a wheel or wheel carrying member I8. Member I8 is provided with a flange having an annular outer surface I8a and this surface is disposed in a .plane making a slight angle with `a plane perpendicular to the axis `of axle It. This angle I9 is indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 and while it may .be variedas desired, in practice the same has been made of about one degree. A nut 2Ii-1iustrated as of the .castletypa` is secured in the threaded yend of -axlel l0, the same V`engaging `a washer Y22 disposed against the 'end of member I8; Another portion of the wheel or Wheel frame I8?) is provided, which portion carries the usual rim Ic. Rim I8c is provided with a pneumatic tire Il. Portion |86 has an inner ange IBd, the inside plane of which is disposed at an angle to the central plane of the rim IBC. While said latter angle which is designated ISa may be varied, inV practice it has been found convenient to have it of the same size or substantially the same size as the angle I9. Flange ISd is shown as having a slightly out-turned portion at its inner diameter which engages a shoulder I8e formed on member I8.

With the described structure the frame I8b can be arranged relatively to member I8 or the surface I8a so that the central plane of the rim I8c will be at right angles to the axis of axle I0. With this arrangement the flanges I8 and I8d are arranged with their greatest divergence at opposite sides of the axle or at 180 degrees from each other. With this 'arrangement the inclination of surface |80. offsets the inclination of ange I8d so that the central plane of rim IBG is perpendicular to the axis of axle I0. When flange I8d is disposed relatively to flange I8 or the surface ISa thereof so that the greatest di'- vergence of said flanges is at the same side of the axle the central plane of rim I8c will be disposed at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of axle I equal to the sum of the angle I9.and the angle` Illa which flange Id makes with the central plane of rim I8c. The latter arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be seen that by rotating flange I8d to different positions on surface Illa the angle which the cenftral plane of the rim makes with a plane perpendicular to the axis of the axle can be varied. lWith the wheels arranged as shown in Fig. 2,

when the vehicle progresses and axle I0 and the wheels rotate the wheels will have a wobble motion so that they will cross the track of the wheel which has made a track therebetween. With this wobble motion any small longitudinally extending ridges will be eliminated.

In Figs. and 6 a modification is shown in which the housing II carries the bearing I2 as already described in which bearings the axle 24 is journalled. Housing I I is shown as having the cap I3 and washer I5, said cap being held in place by the screws I4. Axle 24 has the end portion 24a which is tapered outwardly and this por- 'tion has its axis extending at a slight angle to the axis of axle 24. This angle 25 may be varied but in practice it would be made substantially two degrees. A wheel 26 having the hub 26a. is secured to axle portion 24a by one or more keys 21. Axle portion 24a has an outer reduced 'threaded portion 24h on which is threaded a nut 28 illustrated as of the castle type. Washer 29 engages the end of lhub 26a and is held thereagainst by the nut 23. In Fig. 5 a pair of wheels 26 are shown equipped with pneumatic tires 30. Bothends of axle 24 are shown and the portions 24a thereof incline in opposite directions from the axis of said axle. The portion 24a at the left end of said axle inclines downwardly while the 'portion 24a at the right is shown as inclining upwardly. Housing I I is shown as mounted in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

With the structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6 it will be seen that when the vehicle is progressed and the wheels 26 rotate with axle 24 that said wheels will have a wobble motion. The tires 30 .will thus make tracks which will overlap somewhat the track made by the tire aligned with a Y space therebetween. The formation of small ridges when the roller rolls over the surface will thus be eliminated.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient structure of a vehicle such as a road rolling machine in which the position of the wheels can be varied as desired. The structure is simple, easily made and very durable. It will be obvious that the device will have a high degree of utility for the purpose intended.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, ar-

rangement and proportions of t-he parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. A road roller having in combination, an axle, a wheel-carrying member secured to said axle, said member being provided with a ange having a surface disposed in a plane at a slight angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said axle, a rim-carrying wheel frame engaging said flange and means for securing said ange and frame together whereby the central plane of said rim is disposed at a slight angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said axle.

2. A road roller having in combination, an axle, a wheel-carrying member secured to said axle, said member being provided with a flange having a surface disposed in a plane at a slight angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said axle and a rim-carrying wheel frame having a flange engaging the flange on said member and said flange on said frame beingdisposed in a plane at a slight angle to the central plane of said rim.

3. A road roller having in combination, an axle, a wheel-carrying member secured to said axle, said member being provided with a flange having a surface engaging disposed in a plane at a slight angle to a plane perpendicularto the axis of said axle and a rim-carrying wheel frame having a flange engaging said flange on said member, said ilange on said frame being disposed in a plane at a slight angle to the central plane of said rim, said first mentioned slight angle being substantially the same as said second mentioned slight angle.

4. A road roller having in combination, an axle, a rim-carrying wheel frame secured to said axle, said frame comprising relatively movable parts having relatively rotatable engaging portions disposed in planes making a slight angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said axle whereby said parts can be relatively rotated and positioned so that said wheel can be arranged to have the central plane of said rim at right angles to said axis or at an angle thereto.

' JOHN P.. RITCHIE. 

